No question of doing more on counter-terrorism: Pakistan

Washington:Pakistan has said that it has taken sufficient action against terrorism and there was “no-question” of doing more, adding that it was time for the world to play a bigger role in this fight.

“There is no question of doing more,” Pakistani Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told reporters here yesterday when asked about statements from the US that the country needs to do more in its fight against terrorism, particularly against Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

“We have done enough (in the fight against terrorism). Do not talk of doing more,” Chaudhry said, adding that it is time for the rest of the world to “do more” in this regard.
The diplomat argued that Pakistan has a strong record in the fight against terrorism and has earned praise from the entire world including the United States on this.

In a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York on September 27, US Secretary of State John Kerry urged additional action against the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Taiba, an official US statement had said.

A similar statement came from the State Department after Kerry met Sharif in Washington yesterday.

“Secretary Kerry recognised Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in targeting extremists in Zarb-e-Azb and other operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and the two leaders discussed the need for additional efforts to target all terrorists in its territory,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said after the meeting between the two leaders.

“I won’t get into specifics, but obviously it remains a significant challenge, counter-terrorism, and it’s something that we continue to want to partner with Pakistan on,” Kirby said when asked what additional measures need to be taken and against whom.

“There is much that Pakistan has done and can continue to do to help us get at the counter-terrorism challenge there in the region,” Kirby said in response to a question.

Responding to a query, Chaudhry said that additional efforts mean more action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been carrying out terrorist activities against the country from its bases inside Afghanistan.